Investigation of Particle acceleration in Long-lived Astrophysical Shocks and magnetized Turbulent plasma interaction

Objective

Cosmic rays (charged particles that constantly strike Earth) remain one of astrophysics’ greatest mysteries: how are they accelerated to such extreme energies? Supernova remnants (SNRs), where powerful shock waves interact with turbulent magnetic fields, are prime candidates. Yet key processes such as particle injection efficiency, diffusion, and turbulence amplification remain poorly constrained. The IPLAST project will create the first laboratory–astrophysics bridge to address this challenge. By combining high-power laser experiments with advanced simulations, IPLAST will deliver experimentally validated inputs for models of particle acceleration in SNRs. Its objectives are: (1) generate strong, long-lived magnetized shocks using Europe’s petawatt laser facilities (e.g., Apollon, ELI-NP, and OMEGA-EP); (2) develop a hybrid MHD–PIC code capturing the feedback between shocks, turbulence, and energetic particles, benchmarked against experiments; and (3) pioneer experiments directly coupling SNR-relevant shocks with laser-driven turbulence to probe their role in cosmic-ray acceleration. The results will provide quantitative parameters (e.g., injection rates, diffusion coefficients, spectral slopes) ready for astrophysical models, transforming our ability to test the diffusive shock acceleration paradigm. Beyond astrophysics, outcomes will advance plasma physics and contribute to fusion energy research. Hosted at INAF–OAPa under the supervision of Dr. Salvatore Orlando, the project offers Dr. Weipeng Yao access to world-class facilities, HPC resources, and international collaborations. His expertise in kinetic simulations and laser-plasma experiments ensures feasibility and innovation. Through IPLAST, Dr. Yao will gain multidisciplinary skills, expand his European network, and consolidate his path to scientific independence, while strengthening Europe’s leadership in high-energy astrophysics and fostering open science and sustainable practices.